Kavik

Congrats on designing the site! You have the most important for me covered - wet weather info! Always good to know their wet weather policy, and a number to call if unsure, or update the website with training on or off due to weather etc. What to bring for new members (types of collars/leads allowed, treats, toys etc) Days and times you train, and if this is different for different levels of classes or different disciplines

I understand and share your concern - my GSD broke his leg as a pup doing zoomies in the yard - he collided with my Kelpie cross who was also running, and landed badly (Kelpie was fine!).

I love seeing the different styles of Koolies. I think this is why the WKC was created, so that the working dogs could be just that and look like anything, floppy ears, too small, too tall etc and the show dogs stayed true to type. The Australian Koolie Club does not support show dogs and is dedicated to keeping Koolies bred for work. I think the Working Koolie Council has relatively few members compared to the Australian Koolie Club. WKC stands for Working Kelpie Council - and has quite a few members :)

LOL persephone - this is an udder tug http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3018&ParentCat=29 This is the type of tug that would be ideal for training the out if he tugs hard and OK on other surfaces - they are a harder tug http://www.k9pro.com.au/categories.php?category=Tugs/Synthetic-Tugs otherwise the french linen one is softer or from clean run http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3114&ParentCat=29 or http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3340&ParentCat=29

Yes our dogs have the opposite problem - I would kill to have your problem :laugh: I wouldn't use the udder tug for this issue - it is quite soft and squishy and exciting (one of my dog's favourites!) and quite difficult to make completely dead - they can still self satisfy by chewing it. I would use one of the more 'traditional' shaped tugs such as those K9Pro sells - they would be ideal for this.

I don't think you've made a mess of it :) One thing I would start with is not to let her keep and chew on the frisbee, when you are done playing with it, you keep it. Will she tug on things other than a frisbee - like a different type of tug? It might be easier to start training the out on a firmer tug where you can limit the self satisfying. One way of teaching it is to hold the tug so you can keep the tug completely still 'dead' and wait them out until they let go. Then as soon as they let go reanimate the tug and give a cue to take the tug. This will take some time at first, especially given what you have written :laugh: but is definitely easier if you start with a more conventional tug that does not stretch or squish.

Failed working dogs could also be the case of poor training. You still need to know how to train the dog to follow commands and to be able to direct the dog to move the sheep the way you want. I've only given it a go a few times with my dog, there is a lot to know, both about how to work dogs around sheep and about sheep behaviour as well.

Yes great post Steve!

You do realise that in a lot of breeds there is a split between work and show line dogs? There is a split with both of the breeds I own. A lot of purebred dogs at sheep dog trials are not registered with the ankc show body but with working registries and that they often look different to their show counterparts. This is a controversial area and it is not black and white. With selective breeding you select which traits you want to pass on. If you don't select for working ability, or do not pay attention to which working attributes you are passing on (because you don't know or are not working/testing) then you can lose it. Good working breeders put a lot of thought into each breeding, looking at the working attributes of the parents and what they are hoping to achieve with the working attributes of their offspring, sometimes with specific breed related traits in mind. You can't get the same level if you are not paying attention to working ability.

Since we're on the topic of dog runs, I have fenced off the side of my house for a puppy run, it is a nice size, but there is not much shelter, apart from a kennel . What is an easy way to make a shelter for part of the run? There is no dog in there at the moment.

I generally apply it right before I put the dogs to bed, so it has time to disperse before the kids will be anywhere near the dogs. Not sure what you can do in your case, sorry.

I find that random recalls as well as paying for checking in tends to get them not to wander too far

My friend has a Kelpie with pet name "Swag" - I thought that was pretty cool! :) eta actually looks like that might be his reg name too!

I didn't get to pick Kaos's registered name, he is WKC registered, the breeder chose. Awww, that's highly unusual! At least it's a good name. The only thing that is difficult is that his reg name (Avenpart Ontario) is nothing like Kaos, so at trials people go who is that dog? until they realise it's me and - oh it's Kaos :laugh:

I didn't get to pick Kaos's registered name, he is WKC registered, the breeder chose.

Well done to you and Kaos! Thanks! We have been working on it for about a year, and I am so happy with our progress!

An update on our tugging: WOOHOO! He did it! Kaos tugged at the park! After lots of work at home and just outside the house, where he is doing well, I decided to bite the bullet and ask him to tug at the park on a walk. I brought the Kong Wubba which I thought was my best bet for getting him to tug somewhere new. He did a tug-retrieve-tug-release-tug-retrieve-PB&J in two different locations at the park! I am so excited - we may get tugging at training after all!

I think not everybody understands etiquette or the dangers of letting dogs come up without permission. On numerous occasions at one club I have attended I have had to tell people not to allow their dog or puppy to approach dogs that are tethered - it is so dangerous to allow a pup to run up to a tethered dog, anything could happen! It is also one reason I prefer to crate rather than tether my dog.

One of my breeds ranges from $500 - $900 and the other from $1500 - $2500. I am looking for something rather more specific though than just a nice pet, and am doing lots of research into which breeders may have the temperament traits I am after, which in the breed I am mostly researching is not likely to correlate to price. Vet prices vary depending on location, more expensive areas tend to have higher vet fees.

I just found out at training yesterday that a member of another club I frequent has a young dog of this cross that has been diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia It was going to be their next agility dog. Their previous dog was a Weimeraner, not sure why they changed, I think because they now have young children, though I tried to present alternative breeds.

That's pretty cool! I would guess that would be Manly & Districts? They are the only club I am aware of that train there.

Queanbeyan show and Canberra Show? Will definitely go and watch those ones :) Yep those are the ones I noticed! Awesome that you are going - will get my act together and decide which one to go and see and let you know :) Will be great to watch the Kelpies doing their thing!

Slightly off topic sorry :laugh: but KTB I am thinking of going to a Yard Dog Trial to watch some Kelpies in action and get a view of different kennels and bloodlines - there are a couple coming up your way one in November one in February - you going to either of those? Would be great to meet you :)

Kaos didn't treat the dingo much differently - he is not overly interested in other dogs anyway. It was very interesting to see them together though and see the differences and the similarities in appearance.

It is legal in NSW - they are treated like dogs under the Companion Animals Act - so just need to be microchipped and registered etc. I met a purebred dingo that was someone's pet recently while doing a demo for my agility club - very handsome fellow!